Dorothy Frances Bednar

Born in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas, on February 14, 1929, she cherished her Croatian heritage and family, speaking Serbo-Croatian until she began attending school at St. John the Baptist, later graduating from Bishop Ward High School.

She was married to the late Joseph P. Bednar, Sr., until his death in 1978, and together they raised 10 children as active members of St. Peter’s Parish. Later, she served as a Eucharistic Minister at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Dorothy worked in various positions as an administrative assistant, and especially treasured her time at Community Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri, and Eastman Kodak in Shawnee Mission, Kansas after which she retired.

She is remembered for her love of jitterbugging, Broadway musicals, Perry Como, and her delicious povatica, sarma, snowballs, and padruskis along with the numerous afghans she crocheted for her children and grandchildren. She was #RaisedRoyal and loved Notre Dame and KC Chiefs football. She frequently traveled all over the country to visit her children - and anywhere she could find a slot machine. She left her children a love of politics and a legacy of being an engaged citizen, proud to have voted in 16 Presidential campaigns, always for a Democrat.

She is also preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Mika (Millie) Bartolac, her sisters, Helen Conard and Loretta Gorsky, and her beloved Aunt Rose Bartolac.

Survivors include her sister Kathleen Braun, and her children: Julie A. Scott (JD); Joseph P. Bednar, Jr. (Jill); Catherine M. Godfrey (Stephen); Thomas V. Bednar (Lucy); Nancy J. Johnson (Bill); Francis M. Bednar (Kathy); David G. Bednar (Giavanna); Mary Elisabeth Bednar; Lorraine Bednar (CJ); Paul W. Bednar (Jennifer); and 16 grandchildren: Jennifer L. Scott, Zoë E. Bednar, Caroline E. Godfrey, Stephen D. Godfrey IV, Stephen B. Boyer, Neal Boyer, Micaela E. Johnson, Andrew C. Johnson, Arthur W. Johnson, Michael H. Bednar, Alexandra J. Bednar, Zachariah J. Bednar, Elias Z. Bednar, Ezra J. Bednar, Lila M. Bednar, and Ava E. Bednar.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 28 at McGilley State Line Chapel from 5-8pm, and a funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 701 East Meyer Boulevard on Saturday, December 29 at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society https://www.svdpusa.org